James Madison Papers

To James Madison from George Washington Campbell, 18 June 1826

From George Washington Campbell

Nashville 18th. June 1826.

Dear Sir,

This will be handed you by Mr. Cramer,1 a gentleman of respectable commercial connections in St. Petersburg; who is prosecuting his travels in this country. Having had some acquaintance with his family connections, while at that place, some years ago, he called on me here, and expressing a particular desire to pay his respects to you, I have, at his request, given him this note of introduction.2 With very great pleasure, I embrace the occasion this affords, of renewing to you, assurances of the very High respect, & distinguished consideration, with which, I have the honor To be, Sir, Your Most Obedt,

G. W. Campbell

RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.

1Charles Cramer (1799–1879) was born in Russia to Benedict Cramer, a merchant and director of the Russian-American Company in St. Petersburg. Charles traveled extensively in the United States in the 1820s and 1830s and was Russian vice-consul for the Port of New York beginning in 1836. An enthusiastic mineralogist, he was a member of several scientific institutions in Europe and the United States (Michael Stillman, “Cummins and Reese Offer the Charles Cramer Archive,” Book Catalogue Reviews [March 2011]: https://rarebookhub.com/reviews/1139; Bashkinaet al., United States and Russia, 1131; New-York Spectator, 11 Aug. 1836; Herman Le Roy Fairchild, A History of the New York Academy of Sciences: Formerly the Lyceum of Natural History [New York, 1887], 89–90).

2Cramer described his visit to Montpelier: “I proceeded to Mr. Madison’s 60 Miles, in a Wretched Waggon, with a still more wretched Rosinante; & halted some distance from the house—ashamed of displaying this elegant ‘attelage,’ but was not a little surprized to learn from Mr. Madison, that he was quite familiar with the same, & that most of his Visiters were in the habit of using it. It being a very dark night, I was obliged to hold a lantern suspended from my travelling Companion, ‘a flute Stick.’

“Montpellier is situated in Orange Cty. Virginia; & is the residence of Mr. Madison, who lives in a respectable style—every thing elegant, without fastiduousness.

“I was recieved with much politeness by Mr Madison, & entertained 2 days at his house. I parted from him with great regret.

(illustration)

The “Wretched Waggon” transporting Charles Cramer to Montpelier.

(illustration)

Sketch of Montpelier, Orange County, Virginia, as seen by Charles Cramer.

“He was an active co-operator with Mr. Jefferson, in behalf of the University […] of Virginia & has at present the Sole Management of the same.

“Mrs. Madison is an extremely accomplished Lady, & must have graced the ‘Drawing Room’ during the 8 years’ presidency of her husband, in every sense of the Word” (Charles Cramer, “A General Tour thro’ the United States & British Provinces of North America” [5 vols.; St. Petersburg, 1830], 5:[54]–59 [owned by Harlan Crow Library, Dallas, Tex., 2019]).

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